Ecuador - Andean and Amazon Wildlife Expedition - May 2024. ESCORTED SMALL GROUP - FULL

Whilst most famous for the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador has so much wildlife to explore and we will make the most of this on our 12-night Andean and Amazon Expedition, escorted by Lesley Pritt.

On this journey, we will encounter one of the most remarkable mammals  - the Spectacled Bear—a unique species found in the  Cayambe-Coca Ecological Reserve, located in the eastern Andean region of Ecuador.  The Spectacled Bear is the only bear species native to South America and is named after the distinct light-coloured markings around its eyes, which resemble spectacles.  We will have the opportunity to observe the bears from viewing points and a trail on the slopes.  These excellent climbers spend much of their time in trees foraging for food and resting peacefully.

Our other key destination is the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest, one of the most biodiverse places on the planet.  With our base for four nights at the Napo Wildlife Centre, we will travel by motorboat and dugout canoe, hike the trails and climb the canopy tower in search of birds: colourful Tanagers, Macaws, Toucans and Flycatchers and mammals: Golden-Mantled Tamarins, White-Faced Capuchin Monkey, Two and Three-toed Sloths, Pigmy Squirrels and Giant River Otters.   A highlight will be a visit to clay licks, where we hope to see large numbers of parrots such as the Amazon Mealy, Blue-headed, Orange-cheeked and Cobalt-winged Parakeets.

These two remarkable wildlife experiences will be complemented by time in the Antisana Ecological Reserve to observe Andean Condors and we will spend our last night in the lush cloud forest to birdwatch for Toucans, Tanagers and Hummingbirds.